London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Harrow 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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34
Section 23 — Midwifery
Establishment
The total establishment of midwives at 31st December 1968, was as
follows:-
Superintendent
Deputy Superintendent
Midwives (whole-time equivalent) 13
The present national decrease in the birth rate has been reflected in the domiciliary field by an overall reduction in the number of home confinements and bookings, but as the following table shows, the number of planned early discharges from hospital is continuing to rise.
| Attendances during the year:- | 1967 | 1968 |
|---|---|---|
| Total domiciliary bookings | 798 | 602 |
| Home confinements | 556 | 483 |
| Emergency admissions to hospital | 126 | 63 |
| Discharged to the district | 82 | 83 |
| Planned early discharger:- | ||
| Cases booked and discharged | 316 | 452 |
| Cases booked and not discharged | 131 | 149 |
| Unbooked discharges | 36 | 54 |
The pattern of midwifery is continuing to change and there are now
almost as many mothers delivered in hospital and then discharged to be
nursed at home by the domiciliary staff as are delivered at home by the
practitioner and the domiciliary staff. In view of this tendency towards
hospital deliveries and as there is new statutory authority for the
domiciliary midwife to deliver in hospital as well as in patients' homes, all
the domiciliary midwives have spent three days in the maternity department
of Edgware General Hospital in order that they may become
familiar with the labour ward lay-out and the techniques in use. This three
day attachment was of great benefit to the domiciliary midwifery staff and
sincere thanks are due to the Matron and the staff at Edgware General
Hospital.
The establishment of midwives has remained the same and they have
been fully occupied. They work in groups of four and have a weekly rota
system which operates to the mutual benefit of the patients and midwifery
staff. The night calls continue to be assigned to the midwives by the Harrow
Hospital switchboard staff, with extreme efficiency. During the year one
midwife left the service of the Council and was replaced from a total of
five applicants.